Water-tube boiler.



No. 653,2l6. Patented July to, I900. c. B. cowuzve. H. c. coon-m- WATEBTUBE BOILER.

(Application mefi M 21, 1899.)

(No Nodal.)

THE Noam: PETERS cc, Pnm'uuma, vusnmcmmp. c.

NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. COWLEY, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS, AND HOWELL O. COOPER, OFOIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER-TU BE BOILER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters iEatent l\l'oe 653,216, dated July10, 1900.

Appfication filed August 21, 1899 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES R. COWLEY, residing at Everett,county ofMiddlesex, State of Massachusetts, and HOWELL O. COOPER, residing at OilCity, county of Vena'ngo, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented anImprovement in Water-Tube Steam-Boilers, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The object of our invention is to produce a boiler combining thedesirable featuresof the water-tube type with the desirable features ofthe fire-tube type-4. 6., large heatin g-surfaces compactly arranged,with an adequate proportion of contained water, and having all partsreadily accessible for inspection, cleaning, and repairs.

Since the water side of the heating-surfaces immediately in'contact withthe flame furnish the highest evaporative efficiency, and therefore whenusing salt or impure water become coated with deposit most rapidly, itis imperative that such surfaces be so disposed as to be easily cleaned.In order that this may be secured, together with the proper proportionof water to carry off such heat as rapidly as necessary, we havesupplied two sets of heating-surfaces-that furnished by large watertubesand that furnished by smaller fire-tubes. To make the fire-tubesaccessible, it is necessary to so arrange the draft that they may whendesired be freed from the hot gases to allow of their being cleaned,plugged, &c., without entirely shutting down the boiler.

Our invention consists in, first, the insertion of oneor more fire-tubesor clusters of fire-tubes into a large water-tube, forming therewith acomplete unit, in such a manner that said fire-tubes or clusters offire-tubes may be readily removed; second, a packing gland arrangedtoadjust a packing in the joint formed by the cluster of fire-tubes headand the Water-tube head, said gland adjusted by protected bolts, and,third, the combination of one or more water-tubes, with theirremovably-inserted fire tubes, with a steam-drum and a water or muddrum, the whole placed over a grate in such position that the watertubes receive the hottest gases, which may Serial No. 728,001. (Nomodel.)

be released into the uptake or passed at a lower temperature through theinserted firetubes, as desired.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents the front elevation of a boilerconstructed in accordance with our improvements. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the same, showing a section through one water-tube, itsinserted firetubes, heads, stuffing-box glands, and adj usting-bolts,and also showing steam and mud or water drum, casing, grate-bars,uptake, and draft apparatus.

In our method of construction, as shown, the water-tubes D are setinclined from the horizontal, with their ends connected to cast orforged headers B and O. The upper ends of said headers are connected toa steamdrum A by the tubes F, and the lower ends of the headers G areconnected to a mud-drum K by the tubes L.

The tube-heads E and E, into which are secured the fire-tubes M, formingtherewith a cluster, are shown as arranged so that the entire cluster,with its attached heads, may be withdrawn from the water-tubes forinspection, cleaning, &c. The water-tubes D being of large diameterreadily allow of inspection, cleaning, 85c. The tube-heads E and E aremade to fit the corresponding outer openingsV and W of the headers B andO and are made tight therein by rings of packing G, said rings beingheld in place by the gland I, adjustable by means of bolts .I, the outerends of said bolts being protected from the hot flames by the cap-nutsN. The diameters of the heads E and E being equal, there is no tendencyfor the cluster, with its attached heads, to change its relativeposition with respect to the water-tube D. Stops O are, however,provided on one end to hold said cluster of fire-tubes firmly in place.

Any set of fire-tubes, with its attached heads, may be readily withdrawnwithout disturbing any other set. A secondary passageway Q is providedfor the gases to go directly into the uptake S instead of through thefiretubes M, if desired, said passage-way being closed by the door P,arranged to open and close as required.

It is not intended to limit the invention to the specific constructionshown and described,

moved and replaced, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination with a water tube or shell; of removable fire-tubeheads therefor,

the said heads being about the same in diameter as that of theshell; anda cluster of fire-tubes extending from one of the said heads to theother whereby the entire cluster of fire-tubes may be removed at once torender the interior of the shell accessible, as set forth.

3. The combination with a removable firetube head, of a water-shellhead, and adjustable packing-glands and adjusting-screws with protectedends, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination with a fire-tube boiler, of a supplementarynormally-closed draftpassage leading from the top of the boiler directlyinto the uptake and adapted when opened to afford a direct passage forthe draft whereby the fire-tubes are freed from the hot gases and may beinspected, plugged, &c., without shutting down the boiler, substantiallyas shown and described.

5. The combination of a number of water tubes or shells each containingone or more fire-tubes arranged in such a manner that the hot gases ofcombustion impinge first upon said water tubes or shells and becomingsomewhat cooled are thence passed through the fire-tubes and finally outinto the smoke-box at a low temperature and means whereby said tubes maybe readily removed and replaced to afford access to the interior of saidwatershells, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a boiler, the combination with a water tube or shell; of removableheads for the ends of said shell; a cluster of fire-tubes extending fromone of the said heads to the other whereby said heads and fire-tubes maybe removed to afford access to the interior of the shell; and packingdevices for said heads, substantially as described.

7. The combination with water tubes or shells, of connecting-headersfastened thereto and provided with openings opposite the ends of saidWater tubes or shells for the insertion of removable fire-tube heads;and a cluster of fire-tubes extending through each of said shells fromone of said heads to the corresponding opposite head, the said tubesbeing connected with said heads, whereby each cluster of fire-tubes andits attached heads may be removed, leaving the interior of the shellsaccessible, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES R. COWLEY. HOWELL O. COOPER. -Witnesses:

HENRY J. LIVERMORE, J AS. J. MALoNEY.

